It took Kitty three days to revive from her delightful ordeal with Clyde.
James didn't come around, nor did he call. She didn't mind. She was perfectly content to be completely alone, to read and think and regain her strength.
On the fourth day she cleaned the house from top to bottom, refreshed herself with a nude swim, then sprawled out on a soft towel to absorb the sun's rays.
She didn't bother dressing when she heard Harold come in and go to their bedroom in search of fresh clothes. She remained stretched out in the sun, enjoying her solitude.
He took an arm-load of suits and shins to the car, then came back to search out fresh neck ties.
Kitty remained on her back, eyes closed, absorbing sun.
"Do you have anything you want to say?" he asked, coming to the patio where he stood in the shade, looking self-righteous.
"About what?"
"About your behavior. I must forewarn you, it's senseless to deny anything."
She looked at him with a smile. "Deny what, Harold?"
"I think you know what I have reference to. If you want to apologize for your actions, I'll listen."
Kitty turned her face to the suns closing her eyes. "Fuck off, Harold."
"It might interest you to know that I've hired another gardener," he said.
"How thoughtful of you."
"I've decided to give you some time to think about our situation," he added. "Until we decide where we go from here."
Kitty leaned back, closing her eyes again, feeling his eyes going over her tits. "Let me know when you decide. Our attorneys can work out the details."
"That might not be necessary, Kitty. We might be able to work something out between ourselves."
"I hope we can. I just want you to know that I'm not about to roll over and play dead if you take this serious and try to make a future with Sarah."
"She's being very helpful."
"And she gives lovely head, right?"
"Sarah doesn't look at sex exactly like you do, Kitty."
She looked at him again, puzzled. "How do I look at sex?"
"As some kind of adventure."
"And Sarah? How does she look at it?"
"I'm not sure yet. I sometimes think she just endures it."
Kitty smiled, leaning back, closing her eyes. "You two have that much in common."
Harold paused, his eyes running over the smoothness of her skin, the contours of her thighs and tits. "I'm not so sure of that, Kitty. You were beginning to open my eyes to a few things before you…"
"Before I what?"
"You know what I mean!"
"Did you pack your orange-and-beige tie?"
"No. Sarah never liked it. I could tell every time I walked in the office wearing it. It's not very business-like."
"She thinks like a man."
"What do you mean by that?" Harold asked. "She'll have you in all blues, browns and pays. That's great for the men to deal with, but the women like a dash of color, a little life. The orange tie is the best one you have for women."
Kitty sat up, her tits pointing straight out. She felt his eyes on them as she walked to the edge of the pool and dived in. The water felt cool on her tanned, hot skin.
"Don't you have anything to say in your defense?" Harold asked, frowning, yet unable to take his eyes from her tanned body floating in the water.
"What defense?" Kitty asked. "I worked at our marriage, and I did a damn good job as far as I'm concerned. I also reached out for a taste of life on my own. I found it, but I didn't let it interfere with my marriage. It gave me some ideas to strengthen my marriage, to make it better for both of us."
Harold looked troubled. "But you…"
"I'm proud of what I've done! It's not my fault your male ego can't handle it, that you have to pack your bag and go looking for your idea of a perfect mate. Go on, look, if you find something better, go for it! I won't try to stop."
"You're not being fair, Kitty!"
She looked at him and smiled. "Tell that bullshit to Sarah!"
"Kitty, I…"
"Go away, Harold! Just go way. When you decide what you want to do, give me a call."
He continued staring at her body glistening in the water, until certain she had said all she wanted to say. Then he turned and went back to Sarah.
But not before picking up his orange tie.